The rivers are closed from today until June 16 and the final week brought mixed fortunes, with chub fans experiencing the greatest success.

The rivers are closed from today until June 16 and the final week brought mixed fortunes, with chub fans experiencing the greatest success.

However, two barbel of 9lb and 8lb 4oz taken by Rob Stubbs during his victory on the Swale were the highlights of the week's sport on running water.

The barbel brace, when added to a 16-chub haul, ensured Rob won the Mike Whinney Memorial match with 48lb 10oz from John Leyland, second on 17lb 9oz, and Chester-le-Street's Graeme Skirrey, third with 17lb.

A seven-chub net of 31lb 3oz gave Dave Nicholson victory in Darlington's BT match on the Swale at Ellerton, but on the Swainby stretch a lone chub of 2lb 5oz caught by Steve McArdle was the only fish hooked.

In the West, most of the Eden has been out of bounds to coarse rods for some time but stillwaters are in form and 14-year-old Frazer White landed a mirror carp of 10lb from Carleton Hill while Andy Corlett accounted for roach of 8oz to 1lb on Lonsdale.

It is not just running waters that are undergoing their spring shutdown. Some stillwaters, too, are out of bounds until June. The Big Waters system at Seaton Burn, WACAC's Milkhope fishery and Bolam Lake are all closed and anglers should ensure that fishing is definitely allowed before proceeding.

The Northumbrian Water day ticket coarse fisheries at Hury and Whittle Dene will be filling the void when they open next Saturday. Roach of 2lb exist in Hury, where all angling baits apply, although the use of cereal ground bait is prohibited.

NW are holding a match on Hury on Saturday, July 5, with cash prizes of up to &#xA3;550. Tickets at &#xA3;10 are available on 0870 240 3549.

Wansbeck and Cramlington AC will once again be running their pike series on their QE2 water from April 6. The club is still hoping to stock its Ashington water with more pike and Alan Dunlop had a 7lb QE2 pike recently.